England football squad announcement: who got a call up for World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Hungary?

England’s latest round of qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar are just around the corner as the Three Lions get set for a an October double header.

Gareth Southgate has named his 23-man squad for the matches away to Andorra (October 9) and at home to Hungary (October 12) including a few surprise inclusions and a couple of notable absences.

England are top of Group I heading into the latest fixtures, with 16 points from six games, and can become one of the first nations to secure their spot at next year’s finals if they pick up the required points and other results go their way in this round.

Here’s everything you need to know about England’s squad for the upcoming matches:

England squad for World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Hungary

Gareth Southgate has named a strong sqaud for the two fixtures including a few recalls with a couple of important players missing through injury.

Here is the full 23-man squad:

Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Conor Coady (Wolves), Reece James (Chelsea), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds), Declan Rice (West Ham), Jack Grealish (Manchester City).

Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jadon Sancho (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Why isn’t Harry Maguire in the England squad?

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire misses the game through injury, as does Liverpool right back Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Both missed their sides respective Champions League games midweek with Maguire out for “a few weeks” with a calf issue while Alexander-Arnold is nursing a hamstring injury.

Also absent from the squad are Magurie’s club teammate Mason Greenwood and Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham.

Manchester City’s Phil Foden has returned to the squad after missing the last round of qualifiers through injury.

When was Fikayo Tomori’s last England cap?

Former Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori, who moved to AC Milan in the summer, won his only previous England cap in November 2019 when he featured against Kosovo in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier.

Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale could be in line to win his first senior England cap, having represented the Three Lions at U18, U19, U20 and U21 level previously.

The former Sheffield United stopper was part of the squad that made it to the Euro 2020 final, coming in for the injured Dean Henderson, and is selected in the squad ahead of Burnley’s Nick Pope who was named in the previous squad.

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, who has won three caps already, also returns to the squad after missing the last round of qualifiers.

What time do the England matches kick off?

England travel to Andorra on Saturday 9 October in their first of two World Cup qualifiers this month, kicking off at 7:45pm (BST).

They then host Hungary three days later on Tuesday 12 October with a 7:45pm (BST) kick off.

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